Injured Xavi returns to training

Barcelona midfielder Xavi Hernandez, who has been struggling with a left calf muscle injury for the past 10 days, returned to training on Tuesday, the Spanish league leaders announced.

Written by Agence-France Presse

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Madrid:

Barcelona midfielder Xavi Hernandez, who has been struggling with a left calf muscle injury for the past 10 days, returned to training on Tuesday, the Spanish league leaders announced.

He will be among the 18 players travelling to Valencia for Wednesday's Spanish league match along with Brazilian defender Dani Alves who has served his one-match suspension, it said in a statement.

Hernandez, 31, suffered the injury during Barcelona's 2-1 win over Athletic Bilbao on February 20.

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola was the main absentee from Tuesday's training session.

He has been suffering from lower back pain for the past two weeks and was replaced by his assistant, Tito Vilanova. Barcelona said it was still not clear if Guardiola would be able to travel to Valencia for the match.

Barcelona are seven points ahead of their nearest rivals Real Madrid in the league table. Valencia are in third place, 17 points behind Barcelona.